This Week's Big Winner: Brian Yoon Wins WSOP Monster Stack Event and Third Bracelet

Brian Yoon is a finisher. The 27-year-old, Los Angeles-native has made three World Series of Poker final tables in his career, and each and every time he has walked away with a bracelet. Yoon’s most recent victory is his largest ever. He topped a massive field of 6,716 entries to win the $1,500 Monster Stack, locking up his third bracelet and the $1,094,349 first-place prize.

Yoon’s prior two bracelets also came in no-limit hold’em tournaments, with his first title coming in the 2013 Little One For One Drop event and the second in a 2014 $5,000 no-limit hold’em event.

“This one’s a lot better, because, honestly, you don’t expect to win one and you win one,” said Yoon when asked where his most recent bracelet win ranks. “You don’t expect to win a second one and you win a second one. Then the third one… it’s been a few years. Getting this one in 2017 feels really good. It’s my biggest score ever.”

Yoon’s lifetime live tournament earnings now exceed $4.2 million, with five live tournament titles and 70 cashes accumulated along the way.

Here are the five biggest hands that propelled Yoon to the win.

Tournament: WSOP Monster Stack
Buy-In: $1,500 • No. of Entries: 6,716 • Prize Pool: $9,066,600 • 1st Place Prize: $1,094,349

The Action

With 29 players remaining, Obreshkov raised to 210,000 in the cutoff and was met by an all-in of 1,195,000 from Yoon in the small blind. Obreshkov called with pocket tens and was racing against Yoon’s A K. The board rolled out 8 6 4 8 K, and Yoon rivered a pair of kings to double back into contention.

The Action

Obreshkov, the chip leader going into the final day, raised to 625,000 from the hijack and Yoon three-bet to 1,600,000 from the cutoff. Obreshkov took his time before eventually moving all-in for 7,050,000. Yoon asked for a count and then made the call, turning over A J. Obreshkov had him dominated holding A K, but the flop of Q J 7 put Yoon into the lead. A shocked Obreshkov could only watch as the board completed Q J, giving Yoon a full house and the pot. Obreshkov left the tournament floor to collect his $75,915 payday.

The Action

After a series of preflop raises, shortstacks Kolev and McKnight were all-in preflop against Yoon, who had both players covered. Kolevel was live with K J against Yoon’s A 8, but McKnight had the best of it with A Q. Unfortunately for the two all-ins, the dealer put out a board of 9 8 3 4 7, giving Yoon the best hand and a double knockout. Since Kolev was the shorter stack, he finished in fifth place earning $281,800. McKnight banked $374,515 for his fourth-place showing.

The Action

Yoon raised to 1,300,000 on the button and Stanley Lee moved all in for 16,500,000. Yoon quickly called with A K and saw he was racing against the pocket sixes of Lee. The board rolled out A K 3 9 7 and Lee was eliminated in third place, earning $501,353. The pot gave Yoon a 3:2 chip lead going into heads-up play.

The Action

After building a 4:1 chip advantage during heads-up play, Yoon raised to 2,000,000 and Soika moved all in for 19,800,000. Yoon thought it over for a bit but ultimately decided to call with K 10. He was drawing live against Soika’s A 8, but the flop of J 5 2 was troubling as Soika picked up a flush draw to go with his superior high card. According to the Card Player Poker Odds Calculator, Soika was an 81 percent favorite to double up. The turn was the 7, lessening Yoon’s chances to just 9 percent, but the 10 on the river came through, giving him the title. Soika earned $675,995 for his runner-up finish, but Yoon picked up the $1,094,349 first-place prize and his third overall bracelet.

Final Table Results

1. Brian Yoon — $1,094,349
2. Ihar Soika — $675,995
3. Stanley Lee — $501,353
4. Ryan McKnight — $374,515
5. Yuliyan Kolev — $281,800
6. Maurice Hawkins — $213,591
7. Thomas Ryan — $163,087
8. Richard Ma — $125,451
9. Will Failla — $97,223